New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, openly acknowledged that his team was defeated by a superior Indian side in the Champions Trophy final held in Dubai on Sunday. India successfully chased down a target of 252 runs with six balls remaining, thanks to a strong innings of 76 from Rohit Sharma and impressive bowling performances from Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Santner reflected positively on the tournament overall, stating, “It’s been a good tournament. We faced challenges throughout, and I’m proud of how we grew as a team. Today, we were simply beaten by a better team.” He added during the presentation ceremony, “Everyone in the team contributed at different points and stepped up when needed.”
Despite a strong start from India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, New Zealand’s bowlers managed to bring the game into a tighter contest. However, earlier in the innings, Indian spinners effectively put pressure on the New Zealand batting lineup after Rachin Ravindra’s promising start.
Santner commented on the Indian spinners’ performance, saying, “They bowled really well. After the powerplay, we lost a few wickets, and they really squeezed us. Credit to their spinners; they are world-class. We felt we were about 20 to 25 runs short of our desired score.”
Glenn Phillips showcased exceptional fielding skills by dismissing Gill with a remarkable catch at cover. Santner praised both Phillips’ fielding effort and Rohit Sharma’s batting, “Phillips consistently delivers amazing plays. The way Rohit and Gill played was fantastic. Rohit’s near run-a-ball innings on that pitch was outstanding. We knew the game could shift quickly, and it did.”
Santner also lauded opener Rachin Ravindra for his consistent high-quality performances throughout the tournament, including a century. “We’ve seen him perform in these tournaments before. He also contributed with the ball. For someone so young, he demonstrates a great understanding of the game. He has a very bright future. Even today, he scored at over a run a ball.”
Regarding his experience leading the team in his first major ICC tournament, Santner said, “It has been very enjoyable, made easier by the team. Different players stepping up at crucial moments makes it easy. We faced some challenges, but we adapted well. It has been a great tournament.”
